The University of Kansas Gives Lance Leipold $7 Million to Stay

© Joe Camporeale/USA TODAY

In a move that was predicted to happen back in January by College Football Dawgs, the Kansas Jayhawks, and Lance Leipold have agreed to a new contract to keep him with the program. The more than $7 million contract is a significant raise to his original extension signed in November 2022, making Leipold one of the top three highest average salaried coaches in the Big 12 Conference. The raise comes after the Jayhawks won their first bowl game since 2008 and finished with their best record since 2007.

A Brief History of Lance Leipold's Kansas Tenure

Leipold has catalyzed a sharp turnaround for the Kansas football program. Though just 17-21 in his first three seasons at Kansas, Leipold has turned around a program that was arguably the biggest dumpster fire in college football into one that could potentially compete for a Big 12 title in 2024. Some highlights of Leipold's Kansas tenure include an overtime win over Texas in his first year in 2021—the first time the Jayhawks had ever beaten the Longhorns in Austin, a Liberty Bowl appearance in 2022, an upset win over No. 6 Oklahoma in this past year, followed by a Guaranteed Rate Bowl victory over UNLV, and Kansas's first appearance in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll since 2007. Mind you, this success comes just three years after the Jayhawks finished the 2020 season without a single victory and the turmoil that came with the Les Miles tenure. As stated before, the turnaround has been borderline unprecedented, and people have taken notice.

Further Contract Details

Leipold's contract also comes with a significant investment toward the program's "Gateway Project," a stadium and football facility overhaul plan expected to be completed by 2025. The school has committed $450 million toward the project on top of Leipold's raise. You can read more on that project here. Leipold did not receive an extension on top of his aforementioned contract, which has him extended until 2029. Kansas can amend the contract in the future and has agreed to give Leipold a $500,000 retention bonus each year he stays in Lawrence on top of the $1 million signing bonus. Leipold's buyout has also increased to $5 million in the upcoming year, but then will decrease by $1 million each he remains the coach of the Jayhawks.

The 'New Era' is Here...

Leipold has brought a "new era" in Kansas Jayhawk football, and seemingly right on time given the significant changes regarding conference realignment and the power struggles in college football at the moment. In the arms race of college football, only the strongest survive, and Kansas looks to make its strength known with moves like these. Stay tuned in the coming days for an editorial on what Leipold's signing means for Kansas and the future of not only their program but other programs struggling to make it in the new look college football environment here at College Football Dawgs!